You’ve chosen Love Era for your wedding gown appointment and that means you’ll be shopping for your dream dress in the heart of stunning California wine country. You have the perfect excuse to plan a whole day eating, drinking and exploring your way through one of the most beautiful towns in Southern California. In this blog, we’re sharing the best things to do in Temecula- we’ll help you craft an itinerary to treat you and your group to a day enjoying the local shops, best restaurants and of course, the quintessential wineries in and around Old Town. Get excited for an unforgettable day!
Schedule
First things first, let’s get your Love Era appointment on the calendar. You can book directly through our website here. We offer appointments from late morning to early evening to accommodate whatever activities you want to include during your time in Temecula. Grab brunch and mimosas before an afternoon appointment or squeeze in shopping and an early dinner then come see us for an evening consultation. Whatever you decide, just keep in mind that styling appointments are 1.5 hours long and can accommodate you and up to six guests. Not sure who to bring along? Check out our post on all the advice you need when it comes to choosing your wedding gown shopping squad here. Once you have your appointment on the books and all the invites out for the people who will be joining you, it’s time to plan your special day in wine country!
Shop
As you know, Love Era is centrally located in the heart of Old Town Temecula, so you’re steps away from adorable local shops. These are the perfect places to find wedding party gifts! Here are some of our favorite must-visit stops before or after your appointment…
- Temecula Lavender Co: As you can imagine, this place smells like an absolute dream. The handcrafted products in this shop are all created from lavender grown in Temecula. They use locally grown ingredients free from artificial colorants, perfumes or harsh preservatives. Find bath products, organic skin care, homemade candles and more, mere steps from our bridal shop.
- French Soap Shop: Au Savon De Provence will draw you right in from the sidewalk with the scent of their beautiful French soaps and body products. This quaint little French shop is the perfect place to grab handmade soaps, natural laundry soap, clean deodorant and more.
- Temecula Olive Oil Company: While it’s usually the grapes that get all the love here in Temecula, you definitely want to stop into this quaint olive farm shop. All the products at the shop come from their Olive Ranch located just 25 minutes from Old Town. If that interests you, they have tours of the property as well as tastings daily (more details here). Either way, be sure to check out the shop and pick up a bottle of their homemade flavored olive oils, balsamic vinegars, chocolates, spices, pestos and more. They also do tastings with small bites of french bread 😉
- Old Town Spice & Tea Merchants: Another local favorite full of spices, rubs, sugars, chocolates, soup mixes and more. And of course, beautiful arrays of loose leaf teas. If you’re a tea lover or self proclaimed chef, be sure to plan for a little extra time to explore this charming shop. Lucky for you, we carry a hand-selected variety of tea for you to sip on during your Love Era appointment. Our favorite blend is the Raspberry Romance - yummmmm.
Eat & Drink
No hangry brides here. Check out our favorite places to eat before or after your appointment. Temecula is full of beautiful and yummy restaurants, but here are some of our tried and true favorites…
EAT
- Small Barn Old Town: Farm-to-table inspired restaurant offering dinner and brunch on Saturday + Sundays. They have a great cocktail menu and really unique dishes. If you have an afternoon weekend appointment, brunch is the way to go. Just order the Cornmeal Waffle- trust us you won’t regret it. And if it’s a nice day, be sure to book a reservation on their outdoor patio. It’s dreamy 😍
- 1909: An elevated pub atmosphere for a casual and cozy brunch, lunch or dinner. They have a huge menu that’s guaranteed to accommodate everyone in your group, even the picky ones. But this spot is all about the drinks and would be a great spot for a post-wedding-dress-shopping happy hour. The frozen drinks are next level and the perfect cocktail to sip after finding your dream dress.
- Espadin: Two words- margaritas and tacos. Well, there’s also ceviche, guacamole, and churros. Everything on the menu at this fun and vibrant Old Town restaurant is delish. Open for lunch and dinner, this casual spot is a great pick for groups wanting to grab a quick bite before their Love Era appointment (we’re right above them!) or grab some snacks before hitting the wineries.
- Goat & Vine: This modern chic restaurant has all the upscale wine country vibes. Open for lunch and dinner, their menu is full of crowd pleasers like salads, hot & cold sandwiches, charcuterie and pizzas. Plus, the space is absolutely beautiful. Be aware that they only have one table that can accommodate a larger group, so call ahead to confirm availability if you’re bringing more than six guests.
DRINK
- Le Coffee Shop: Coffee and a warm croissant is basically the recipe for a perfect day, so why not start off at this authentic French bakery and cafe? If you want to make sure your group is fed and happy before your appointment, this is a great place to meet for a delicious breakfast and lots of caffeine. Crepes, quiche, croissants, omelets, macarons….drooling yet? The almond croissant with a cappuccino is our favorite combo here at the shop. You won’t be disappointed.
- Thompson & Twain: This one is for those late night appointment-makers who just want a tasty drink post wedding gown shopping. A western-inspired speakeasy located right in the same building as Love Era. Perfect for some celebratory cocktails after finding the dress of your dreams. Keep in mind that it’s all about cocktails here so you won’t find any beer, wine, or food.
- Lorimar Loft: If you want the winery experience but want to keep the festivities to Old Town, Lorimar offers tastings less than a five minute walk from Love Era. They offer local events with food trucks and entertainment throughout the month, check out their event calendar here to see what’s coming up next.
- Batch Mead: There’s a good chance at least a few members of your group have yet to try mead, so this could be the perfect opportunity for everyone to share a new experience! Similar to a hard cider, mead is produced from honey and is a sweet option for those who want to switch things up from the endless wine options. It’s a fun tasting option to work into your Temecula bar hop! Note they’ve moved locations and are a quick drive from Love Era, so plan to make this stop after your Old Town itinerary.
Wine Wine Wine
We can’t talk Temecula without making some winery recommendations. While they’re not far from Old Town, most wineries are a 20 minute drive up the street from Love Era so keep that in mind and plan transportation accordingly if you’re going to be drinking. There’s tons of winery options, but these are our favorites…
- Leoness Cellars: If you want to spend the entire day at a winery, Leoness has everything you’d need right on site. From wine tastings, to cellar tours and a beautiful al fresco restaurant. They even have a gorgeous wedding venue if you want to check off getting your wedding dress and securing your venue in one day- just saying!
- Altisima: This aesthetically pleasing winery offers an array of different wine tours for groups at all different price points. They can even help with things like planning transportation or creating a custom tasting menu if you really want to treat your group to a unique experience. They also have a great restaurant and wedding venue on site.
- Peltzer: A family-friendly farm and winery that is ideal for groups that include anyone under 21. This rustic and quaint vineyard also has accommodations on site including an adorable vintage airstream! If you’re visiting in the winter, they even have an ice rink and hot cocoa bar. Check out their events calendar here to see if they line up with your Love Era visit!
- Doffo: An elegant Temecula winery with some edge. They offer a number of different tour experiences, but the coolest has to be their Cork N’ Tork Tour where they take your group around the property on their adorable eco-friendly tour bus and end with a trip through their vintage motorcycle collection. And of course, lots of wine along the way.
Speaking of Transportation
- Moke and Wine Tour: If you've never ridden in a Moke, add Moke and Wine to your bucket list. These stylish convertible eco-friendly cars comfortable fit 3-4 people, come in pink or white, and drive you through the vines of Temecula wine country for yummy bites and more delicious wine. Perfect for an epic social media moment and sure to turn heads. Book one of their Moke tours with your bridal entourage for a relaxing afternoon post Love Era appointment, save it for future bachelorette celebrations, or add it to your wedding Pinterest board as a unique wedding getaway car!
- Temecula Cable Car: For the brides whose entourage is more than 3 people, Temecula Cable Car offers open air wine tours through the vineyards and can be customized to your interests. Haunted wine tour, anyone? You have the option of booking a private tour or hopping on and off the cable car with other day-drinking wine aficionados.
- Van N’ Boozy: A boozy, not boujee wine tasting experience in renovated VW buses? Count us in! With options to stop at both wineries and breweries, this is a great option for anyone who wants to mix things up on their day drinking schedule.
If you’re visiting Temecula to come see us for your Love Era appointment, it’s well worth it to make the most of your trip and spend some time in our beautiful town. It won’t take long to see why we love it so much around here. Whether you treat yourself to a self-care day or bring your whole group, there are endless options to have an unforgettable day.
Want more of the best things to do in Temecula? Reach out to our team, let us know when you’ve scheduled your appointment, and we’re happy to help you put together the perfect itinerary for your special day!
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